A book trailer is a video advertisement for a book which employs techniques similar to those of movie trailers. They are circulated on television and online in most common digital video formats.
The term "book trailer" is currently a trademarked term owned by Sheila Clover of Circle of Seven Productions. The first book trailer to be played publicly was at a book convention in Shreveport, LA. in 2003. The trailer was for a book entitled Dark Symphony by author Christine Feehan.
Though book trailers were being made as early as 2002, the term caught on in 2005 when user-generated online video upload became more popular. Sites such as MySpace, YouTube and iFilm allowed for the videos to be viewed by the public, creating a market for this promotional tool.
Book Trailers can be acted out, full production trailers, flash videos, animation or simple still photos set to music with text conveying the story.
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Online Audio Clips
The issue of the distinction between online readings by the author of excerpts and book trailers has become important since the introduction of Book Trailer Awards. It is generally accepted that a book trailer can incorporate material from the book but it must be presented in a format consistent with a trailer. An exception to this general rule is that the preface, introduction or sleeve-notes (although physically part of the book) are to be regarded as external elements and so a simple audio recording of elements of this complies with the accepted scope of a book trailer. Obviously the competition rules will vary between regions and over time as the genre continues to evolve. Interviews with authors which can be classed as promotional can be incorporated into a book trailer but cannot be classed as such on their own.
Book Trailers in Education (Digital Booktalk)
Besides being used to promote books, book trailers are a way to get otherwise reluctant readers to become motivated to read. The Digital Booktalk project, sponsored by the University of Central Florida includes a curriculum model that teaches teachers and students how to create their own trailers for books. Drs. Robert Kenny and Glenda Gunter have been developing this model based on extensive research since 2003 and have settled on a simplified intervention. Their research demonstrates that students have a new-found purpose for their reading.
See also
- film trailer
- teaser trailer
- digital booktalk
External links
- How to Make a BookTrailer
- Student Created Digital Book Trailers from the University of Central Florida
- www.bookscreening.com
- Book Trailers on TrailerSpy.com
- On A Screen Near You (Guardian article)
- Seeking readers via 'book trailer' (San Francisco Chronicle)
- YouTube video sets stage for novel (Los Angeles Times)
- Book Trailers at The Internet Book Database
- Examples of book trailers
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